Both Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools and the Peace Wapiti Public School Division have been awarded grants by the provincial government to focus on mental health in schools.
In June 2022, the Catholic school division was awarded a $256,912 grant to go towards the addition of two addiction counsellors who will start early next year. According to the school division’s website, “the addition will positively impact students, guardians, teachers, and administrators.”
The new counsellors are meant to address the social, emotional, and educational needs of the students, helping increase students’ achievement. Over the past few years, the school division says it has been adding mental health support to schools through Catholic and Family Services, while also hiring a mental health therapist for the division.
While the exact amount the Peace Wapiti Public School Division received has not been released to the public, the school division will use its grant to hire a full-time Peace Wapiti Outreach Team Lead and three family support workers. The grant will help cover the cost of the additional four positions, which is meant to help address the unique divisional student health and wellness needs identified by the grant committee.